Pilot of aerobatic biplane loses control of aircraft during spin. Ejects canopy and orders passenger...

Attributes
ACN	676758
Time
Date	200511
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	S-2 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 1
ASRS Report	676758
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was a passenger on an aerobatic flight. The pilot entered a controled power-off upright spin to the left at 6000 ft MSL. After the spin developed; the pilot applied right aileron to accelerate the spin. I can't remember if I was following through on the controls with the pilot or not. I heard the pilot announce that he was initiating the emergency spin recovery technique that we had briefed on the ground. The aircraft continued to spin to the left. I then heard the pilot command me to bail-out and I felt the canopy leave the aircraft. I attempted to release my 5 point harness; but was felt that it was not releasing for some reason. After some period of time; I realized that the harness was indeed released and I started to reach for the upper wing to pull myself out of the cockpit. At this time the aircraft recovered from the spin and I stopped trying to exit the aircraft. I looked behind me to ensure that the pilot had not bailed out; and he flew the aircraft back to the airport for an uneventful landing. After the incident was over; I realized that I had indeed released my harness on the first attempt; but had mistaken the feel of the taut parachute straps for the harness. In the future; before every aerobatic flight as a passenger; I will brief and rehearse the bail-out procedures with the PIC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AEROBATIC BIPLANE LOSES CTL OF ACFT DURING SPIN. EJECTS CANOPY AND ORDERS PAX RPTR TO BAIL OUT. BEFORE EITHER LEAVES THE ACFT; IT SELF-RECOVERS FROM THE SPIN.

Narrative: I WAS A PAX ON AN AEROBATIC FLT. THE PLT ENTERED A CTLED PWR-OFF UPRIGHT SPIN TO THE L AT 6000 FT MSL. AFTER THE SPIN DEVELOPED; THE PLT APPLIED R AILERON TO ACCELERATE THE SPIN. I CAN'T REMEMBER IF I WAS FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE CTLS WITH THE PLT OR NOT. I HEARD THE PLT ANNOUNCE THAT HE WAS INITIATING THE EMER SPIN RECOVERY TECHNIQUE THAT WE HAD BRIEFED ON THE GND. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO SPIN TO THE L. I THEN HEARD THE PLT COMMAND ME TO BAIL-OUT AND I FELT THE CANOPY LEAVE THE ACFT. I ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE MY 5 POINT HARNESS; BUT WAS FELT THAT IT WAS NOT RELEASING FOR SOME REASON. AFTER SOME PERIOD OF TIME; I REALIZED THAT THE HARNESS WAS INDEED RELEASED AND I STARTED TO REACH FOR THE UPPER WING TO PULL MYSELF OUT OF THE COCKPIT. AT THIS TIME THE ACFT RECOVERED FROM THE SPIN AND I STOPPED TRYING TO EXIT THE ACFT. I LOOKED BEHIND ME TO ENSURE THAT THE PLT HAD NOT BAILED OUT; AND HE FLEW THE ACFT BACK TO THE ARPT FOR AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. AFTER THE INCIDENT WAS OVER; I REALIZED THAT I HAD INDEED RELEASED MY HARNESS ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT; BUT HAD MISTAKEN THE FEEL OF THE TAUT PARACHUTE STRAPS FOR THE HARNESS. IN THE FUTURE; BEFORE EVERY AEROBATIC FLT AS A PAX; I WILL BRIEF AND REHEARSE THE BAIL-OUT PROCS WITH THE PIC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Pilot of aerobatic biplane loses control of aircraft during spin. Ejects canopy and orders passenger reporter to bail out. Before either leaves the aircraft; it self-recovers from the spin.